Package orienting apparatus

ABSTRACT

This specification discloses apparatus for orienting packages of frankfurters as they come from a conveyor into condition and position for having a wrapper applied about the contour thereof. The frankfurters are packed in two plastic envelopes, each containing a tier with the two envelopes in end to end relation and connected by an integral hinge. The apparatus which is the subject of this invention receives the connected envelopes from a conveyor, folds them into a two-layer formation, rotates the twolayer formation through 90* in a horizontal plane, and then applies rolling pressure to the upper surface to shape the formation into a compact uniform body for the reception of a wrapper.

United States Patent Nissel May 28, 1974 [541 PACKAGE ORIENTING APPARATUS [57] ABSTRACT 761 inventor: John Edward Nissel, 1010 Conway This specification discloses apparatus for orienting Rd., Fredericksburg, Va. 22401 packages of frankfurters as they come from a conveyor into condition and position for having a wrapper [22] 1973 applied about the contour thereof. The frankfurters [21] Appl. No.: 340,647 are packed in two plastic envelopes, each containing a tier with the two envelopes in end to end relation and connected by an integral hinge. The apparatus which 2% 53/124 ig z gi is the subject of this invention receives the connected d 143 161 envelopes from a conveyor, folds them into a twol 0 layer formation, rotates the two-layer formation through 90 in a horizontal plane, and then applies [56] References cued rolling pressure to the upper surface to shape the for- UNITED STATES PATENTS mation into a compact uniform body for the reception 2,907,447 10/1959 Offutt et al. 53/124 A X of a wrapper. 3,113,874 12/1963 Bausch et a1. 53/124 A X Primary ExaminerTravis S. McGehee Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Eric P. Schellin; Martin P. Hoffman 5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED MAY 2 8 I974 SHEET 1 [IF 2 PATENIEDHAY 2 1914 $812,648

l PACKAGE ORIENTING APPARATUS The present invention relates to the packaging of frankfurters and is concerned primarily with the orienting and conditioning of connected pairs of frankfurters containing plastic envelopes as they "come from a conveyor for the reception of a wrapper thereabout.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION At the present time, frankfurters or hotdogs are provided in a two layer or tier package. This package comprises two plastic envelopes, each containing a tier of hotdogs. The two envelopes are connected in end to end relation by an integral hinge. With the apparatus now available, considerable difficulty is being experienced in folding the two envelopes one above the other into a two-layer formation and pressing this two-layer formation into a compact body of uniform dimensions which is readily adapted to receive a wrapper thereabout.

The apparatus for packing the frankfurters in the plastic envelopes is now known and is not a part of the present invention. This is also true of the wrapping mechanism. The subject apparatus-begins with the twin envelopes connected by the integral hinge and orients and conditionsthem for the wrapping mechanism.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION With the foregoing conditions in mind, the present invention has in view thefollowing objectives:-

1. To provide apparatus for orienting and conditioning packages of frankfurters which includes a continuously moving lower conveyor providing an orienting station and another continuously moving conveyor positioned above the first mentioned conveyor arranged normal thereto and having a discharge end over the orienting station.

2. To provide at said orienting station means for folding the two envelopes of a pair into a position in which one is above the other to provide a two-layer formation.

3. To provide, in apparatus of the type noted, means at the orienting station for rotating the two-layer formation 90 in a horizontal plane.

4. To provide, in apparatus of the character aforesaid, a compacting station downstream of the orienting station and at which rolling pressure is applied to the top of the two-layer formation and compressed into a compact body of uniform dimension for accepting a wrapper.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention, such as arise in connection with carrying out the above ideas in a practical embodiment, will,

in part, become apparent and, in part,. be hereafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing objects are achieved by providing package orienting apparatus comprising a lower continuously moving conveyor with which appropriate supporting structure is associated and which presents an orienting station including two stages or sections and a compacting station. A feeding conveyor is positioned above the conveyor aforesaid and is arranged normal thereto. It receives pairs of frankfurtercontaining envelopes connected by an integral hinge as they come from packing mechanism. This feeding conveyor has a discharge end over one section of the orienting station.

Mounted on the supporting structure at the first stage of the orienting station are a pair of folding bars, each of angular cross-section andarranged above and generally transverse of the conveyor. The folding bar at the upstream end of the orienting station is identified as the lower folding bar and is normal to the conveyor. The other folding bar is located at the downstream end of the first stage of the orienting station and is positioned at a level higher than the lower folding bar. It is disposed at the obtuse angle with respect to the lower folding bar. When a pair of connected envelopes in a flattened-out condition drop from a discharge end of the feeding conveyor, an end of one of these envelopes first engages the upper angularly disposed folding bar to initiate the folding action. The other end of this assembly then engages the lower folding bar to impart a forward movement to the envelope at this end, whereby it is positioned to receive the other envelope which is folded thereabove. This results in a two-layer formation with the two envelopes being closely connected at their hinged ends and a gap at the fold. This two-layer formation will also have been rotated through an arc that is An abutment member is provided by the supporting structure at one sidev of the conveyor and projects thereabove. The two-layer formation engages this abutment and as the conveyor moves the rotation through 90 is completed. During the initial stages of this operation, laterally movable pressure mechanism which oscillates is effective on the side of the package to insure of its accurate alignment and positioning.

Apparatus is provided at the compacting station for applying rolling pressure to the top of the two-layer formation. This apparatus consists essentially of a pair of longitudinally spaced arms which are pivotally mounted at their upper ends on the supporting structure. A roller is rotatably mounted between these arms at the lower ends thereof. Intermediate their ends, these arms are connected by a cross bar to which one end of a link is pivotally secured. The other end of this link is connected to one arm of a bell crank. The other arm of this bell crank extends upwardly and one end of a push bar is pivotally connected thereto. The other end of this push bar is connected to a pressure plate which is mounted for reciprocal lateral movement in the supporting structure.

Mechanism for applying pressure to the pressure plate is mounted on the supporting structure.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the lower conveyor, the supporting structure therewith and the mechanism mounted on the supporting structure; in this view the envelopes in different positions are depicted by broken lines;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed section taken on the plane of the line 33 of FIG. 2 and illustrating the discharge end of the feeding conveyor;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section on the plane of the line 4--4 of FIG. 2 depicting one position of the compacting mechanism and,

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating a second position of the compacting mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED 1 EMBODIMENT Before describing the apparatus which embodies the precepts of the present invention, it is deemed advisable to describe the envelopes which are operated upon by this apparatus. Upon referring to FIG. 2, a pair of envelopes l0 and 11 are shown in end to end relation and connected by an integral'hing e 12. Each of these envelopes l0 and 11 will contain avtier of frankfurters or hotdogs which are arranged longitudinally thereof. Thus package has an outer end wall 13, a top wall 14, a bottom wall 15 and an inner wall 16. Envelope 11 has the same. wall structure.

F IG. 3 illustrates a portion of a feeding conveyor designated inits entirety at 17 and which includes an upper ply-18 and a lowerply 19 which moves over a roll 20 at the-discharge end. The. conveyor 17 is shown as being upwardly inclined and its top ply 18 receives pairs of the envelopes 10 and 11 in tandem. Thus, only the envelope 10 and its outer wall 13 shows in FIG. 3.

A lower conveyor is designated generally 21. It includes a top ply 22 and a bottom. ply 23 which travel over rollers, one of which is shown'at 24 in' FIG. 3. Both of the conveyors 17 and 21 are continuously moving, withthe top ply moving in the direction of the arrows 25 or to the left, speaking with reference to the illustrations of FIGS. 1 and 2.

Supporting structure, the essential elements of which will later be identified in detail, is associated with conveyor 21 and presents an orienting station comprising a first or upstream stage represented by the bracket 26 in FIG. 1 and a second or downstream stage represented by the bracket 27. I

At the upstream endof stage 26 is a transverse supporting element 28 which is supported in a position spaced above top ply 22 by legs, one of which is shown at 29 in FIG. 2. Mounted on transverse supporting element 28 is a lower folding bar designated generally 30 and which is angular in cross-section, thus presenting an inclined inner wall 31, and an inclined outer wall 32 from which extends a tongue 33 which is secured to supporting element 28.

An upper folding bar is designated in its entirety at 34 and is also of angular cross-section presenting an inner inclined surface 35 and an outer inclined surface 36 from which extends a tongue 37 which is secured to another supporting member element 38. It is important to note that the upper folding bar is disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to the lower folding bar 30 and is at a level higher than lower folding bar 30.

When a pair of envelopes l0 and 11 fall from the discharge end of feeding conveyor 17, the corner where outer wall 13 and'bottom wall 15 of the envelope meet first engages the inclined wall 35 of upper folding bar 34. This initiates the folding action. As'the assembly continues to fall, the corner where outer'wall 13 and bottom wall 15 meet engages the inclined wall 31 of lower folding bar 30. This imparts a downstream movemenl to the assembly-and causes envelope 10 to be moved underneath envelope 11 as the latter is moved upwardly and upstream by folding'bar 34. Thus, the

two envelopes assume a folded condition in which envelope 11 is disposed above envelope 10.

At stage 27 of the orienting stage, an abutment member 39 which is carried by the supporting structure extends inwardly over a marginal portion of top ply 22. Thus,as the envelope'assemblyis moved downstream by the conveyor, the envelope assembly engages a corner of the abutment member and further'twisting or rotation is applied thereto which substantially completes the rotation through 90. Also located at stage 27 of the orienting station and on theside of conveyor 21 remote from abutment 39 is pressure mechanism designated generally 40. T his mechanism 40 oscillates so that in one phase of the oscillation it moves-angulary with the top ply 22 and on the return phase moves angularly into the position depicted in FIG.'l. The means for causing this oscillation is not herein disclosed as such devices are well known.

. Pressure mechanism 40 comprisesa carrier plate 41 on which is mounted a pair of guide rods 42 and a cylinder 43. Reciprocal in cylinder 43 is a piston 44, the free end of which carries a positioning plate 45. As the envelope assembly assumes the'broken line position of FIG. 1, the positioning plate 44 is moved inwardly to engage the outer side walls of the envelope assembly to accurately position the two-layer formation at an angle from the position which it assumed when it first fell off the discharge end offeeding conveyor 17.

The compacting station is identified at 46 in FIG. .1. I

A pair of longitudinally spaced supporting elements 47 identify the station 46.-These supporting elements 47 are spaced above the .top ply 22 andextending upwardly from the upper faces thereof are a pair of studs 48. A shaft 49 is-journalled in these studs. A pair of arms 50 have their upper ends secured to shaft 49 andextend downwardly and laterally, inwardly above top ply 22. A roller 51 is journalled between the lower ends of arms 50. A bar 52 extends between the arms 50 substantially midway their extremities.

As is shown more clearlyin FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, a link 53 has one end connected-to bar 52 as indicated M54 and its other end to an arm 55 of a bell crank presenting another arm 56. Bell crank 55-56 is'mounted on a shaft 57, the ends of whichare hournalled in bosses 58 (FIG. I) mounted on supporting elements 47. A push rod 59 has one end pivotally connected to the free end of bell crank arm 56 as shown at 60 and its other end to a pressure plate 61 as shown at 62.

For actuating pressure plate 61, a pusher 63 is provided. This pusher 63 is reciprocated by mechanism not herein disclosed because such devices are well known. Mounted on one end of pusher 63 is an actuating plate 64 which carries guide rods 65. These guide rods 65 are slidable in guides 66 mounted on the supporting structure. Each of guides 66 has a head 67 lope assembly. In this connection it is notablethat a combination abutment and guide member is provided at the edge of conveyor 22' remote from the pressure mechanism. This member is shown at 68 in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 and is mounted on the supporting structure. A

complemental guide element is shown at 69 as spaced from guide 68 and assumes a position inclined from the longitudinal extent of conveyor 21 so as to direct the envelope assembly toward guide 68.

OPERATlON While the manner in which the subject apparatus operates is believed to be obvious from the illustration of the drawings and description of parts set forth above, it may be briefly described as follows:

A pair of envelopes in tandem and containing frankfurters fall off the discharge end of feeding conveyor 17. These two envelopes are folded into an over and under relation as depicted by the broken lines of P16. 2 by the upper folding bar 44 and lower folding bar 30. As the envelope assembly moves to stage 27 of the orienting station, a side edge thereof engages abutment 39 to impart additional rotation thereto. Pressure mechanism 40 is now effective to complete the rotation through 90 and accurately position the envelope assembly. This assembly is now moved to the compacting station 46 in which the roller 51 is forced over the top of the assembly under pressure to compact it and cause it to assume the uniform contour which enables it to receive a wrapper in strip form.

The object of the angular alignment of the folding bar is to present a parallel surface to the falling packages, at the time of contact with the folding bar the packages have not completed the 180 rotation necessary to be parallel with conveyor 23.

The packages when striking folding bar are in a position similar to that shown in FIG. 3 at the end of conveyor 17.

The two layer package formation is pushed against guide fence 68 immediately upstream of abutment 39 by pressure mechanism 40.

Alignment of sides of packages as well as angular placement in relation to conveyor 21 is done by pusher 40.

The angular relation of package to conveyor 21 initiates package rotation when pusher 40 retracts and conveyor 21 carries package against abutment 39.

While a preferred specific embodiment is herein disclosed, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction, devices and mechanisms illustrated and described because various modifications of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice.

What is claimed is:

1. ln apparatus for orienting and conditioning a pair of twin envelopes, each containing a tier of frankfurters and connected in tandem by an integral hinge:

a. a lower conveyor including a continuously moving top ply and presenting an orienting station and a compacting station;

b. a feeding conveyor arranged normal to said lower conveyor and arranged normal thereto, said feeding conveyor having a discharge end spaced above said orienting station;

c. a lower folding bar at said orienting station and spaced above said upper ply at the upstream end of the orienting station;

d. an upper folding bar spaced downstream from said lower folding bar and at a level higher than said lower folding bar, said upper folding bar being disposed at an obtuse angle to said lower folding bar;

e. said folding bars being of angular cross-section providing confronting inclined walls which are engaged by opposite ends by a pair of said envelopes to fold one envelope over the other;

f. an abutment downstream of said upper folding bar and extending inwardly of said lower conveyor from one side thereof and engageable byy the folded envelopes to impart rotative movement thereto;

g. pressure mechanism at the side of said conveyor opposite to that in which the abutment is located and extending over said top ply of the lower conveyor to complete rotation of said folded envelopes through and accurately align said folded envelopes with said lower conveyor, and

h. compacting mechanism at said compacting station and including a pressure roller together with mechanism for moving said pressure roller over the tons of said folded envelopes under pressure.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said orienting station includes two stages, one upstream of the other, with the folding bars being located at the upstream stage and the abutment and pressure mechanism at the downstream stage.

3. The apparatus of claim 2in which the pressure mechanism at the downstream stage includes a cylinder, a piston actuated by said cylinder and a plate at the free end of the piston which engages the end walls of the folded envelopes.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the compacting mechanism includes supporting structure extending over the top ply of the lower conveyor, a pair of longitudinally spaced arms rotatably mounted at their upper ends on said supporting structure, a shaft journalled between said arms at the lower ends thereof, a cross bar extending between said arms intermediate their extremities, a link having one end connected to said cross bar with the other end of said link connected to an arm of a bell crank, said bell crank including another arm having its end connected to a push rod, a pressure plate connected to the other end of said push rod and a reciprocating pusher carried by said supporting structure for applying lateral pressure to said folded envelopes.

the supporting structure. 

1. In apparatus for orienting and conditioning a pair of twin envelopes, each containing a tier of frankfurters and connected in tandem by an integral hinge: a. a lower conveyor including a continuously moving top ply and presenting an orienting station and a compacting station; b. a feeding conveyor arranged normal to said lower conveyor and arranged normal thereto, said feeding conveyor having a discharge end spaced above said orienting station; c. a lower folding bar at said orienting station and spaced above said upper ply at the upstream end of the orienting station; d. an upper folding bar spaced downstream from said lower folding bar and at a level higher than said lower folding bar, said upper folding bar being disposed at an obtuse angle to said lower folding bar; e. said folding bars being of angular cross-section providing confronting inclined walls which are engaged by opposite ends by a pair of said envelopes to fold one envelope over the other; f. an abutment downstream of said upper folding bar and extending inwardly of said lower conveyor from one side thereof and engageable byy the folded envelopes to impart rotative movement thereto; g. pressure mechanism at the side of said conveyor opposite to that in which the abutment is located and extending over said top ply of the lower conveyor to complete rotation of said folded envelopes through 90* and accurately align said folded envelopes with said lower conveyor, and h. compacting mechanism at said compacting station and including a pressure roller together with mechanism for moving said pressure roller over the tons of said folded envelopes under pressure.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said orienting station includes two stages, one upstream of the other, with the folding bars being located at the upstream stage and the abutment and pressure mechanism at the downstream stage.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the pressure mechanism at the downstream stage includes a cylinder, a piston actuated by said cylinder and a plate at the free end of the piston which engages the end walls of the folded envelopes.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the compacting mechanism includes supporting structure extending over the top ply of the lower conveyor, a pair of longitudinally spaced arms rotatably mounted at their upper ends on said supporting structure, a shaft journalled between said arms at the lower ends thereof, a cross bar extending between said arms intermediate their extremities, a link having one end connected to said cross bar with the other end of said link connected to an arm of a bell crank, said bell crank including another arm having its end connected to a push rod, a pressure plate connected to the other end of said push rod and a reciprocating pusher carried by said supporting structure for applying lateral pressure to said folded envelopes.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the upper ends of the arms are pivotally mounted on said supporting structure by a shaft to which said arms are connected, with the ends of said shaft being journalled in studs on the supporting structure. 